Akira fans have been waiting to hear what WB's plans are for the live action version of the classic Manga/Anime. Now Variety are the bearer of great or awful news depending on how you feel about this adaptation.
Warner Bros. has greenlit its remake of 'Akira.' In July, Warners tapped Spanish helmer Jaume Collet-Serra (''Orphan,'' ''Unknown'') to direct the live-action version of the anime cult hit at a lower revised budget of $90 million..Production on the pic is set for a late February / early March start.
One very interesting addition to this info is the news that as well as Leonardo DiCaprio's Appian Way producing the movie, the creator of the original Manga and director of the '80s Anime version Katsuhiro Otomo is on board as exec-producer. That at least should give fans a little more encouragement. WB had struggled to find a cast for the movie with big names such as Keanu Reeves and Brad Pitt apparently declining offers. Maybe they should look to slightly younger actors by about, oh I dunno, 25 years? More info if and when we have it but for now what do you guys think of this development?
UPDATE: Variety's Josh Dickey just posted this update:
With a greenlight in place, studio can begin shopping for the two main male leads; sources tell Variety that the studio is high on "Tron: Legacy" star Garrett Hedlund, who's considered a front-runner. Both Warners and Collett-Sera have been keen on the thesp, but had to wait for a budget and a greenlight to make their move. Though no offer's been made, insiders say it's only a matter of time.
By TwitterButtons.com
About The Author:
Mark Cassidy is a writer, photographer, amateur filmmaker, and Rotten Tomatoes-approved critic from Dublin, Ireland.